Inventory Specialist

As our Inventory Specialist, you will be responsible for managing heavy SKU count of assigned groups of items in accordance with Open to Buy to maintain appropriate stock levels. You will assist in forecasting unit needs, determining order quantities and needed receipt dates, and placing purchase orders as needed. This role is responsible for achieving annual inventory turn and fill rate goals as well as maintaining an adequate supply of all business unit products to ensure sufficient inventory levels. You will also provide management with requested reporting.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions

1. Achieves goal fill rate, inventory turn, and total inventory level on an assigned group of products offered for sale at any business unit
2. Utilize established processes and tools, including but not limited to EBM Report and Forecast 21, to analyze inventory levels and place initial orders, reorders and revisions needed to fulfill anticipated customer demand
3. Establishes consistent processes among Inventory Specialists
4. Maintains knowledge of specific vendors regarding vendor lead time and minimum order quantities both in and out of product’s peak selling season
5. Monitors inventory levels for Top 2500 items, places buys and/or expedite shipments with appropriate urgency to ensure “never out” status is maintained on Top 2500 items at all times; achieves budgeted fill rate on Top 2500 items
6. Determines buy quantity and issues purchase orders as needed; approves buy quantity up to approval limits. $10M-$20M annually
7. Manages open purchase order file to ensure inventory and receipts are in line with Open to Buy plans
8. Identifies potential out of stock items and determines need to expedite upcoming shipments; executes request for air freight to ensure shipment receipt as needed
9. Communicates issues, problems and opportunities to Inventory Supervisor and Inventory Manager in a timely manner
10. Works closely with Fun Express personnel on their programs to ensure orders are placed in a timely manner
11. Analyzes all requests for appropriateness
12. Actively participates in weekly Inventory Specialist meetings with the Merchandise, Sourcing, Packaging/QC teams to ensure necessary topics and issues are discussed and resolved appropriately
13. Solicits help from the Merchandising team as needed regarding service related issues, potential overstocks, quality related issues, or other merchandising issues as they arise. Implements agreed upon course of action
14. Ensures scarce product is allocated according to company guidelines
15. Includes jobber safety and restriction
16. Maintains consistent and professional communication with Merchandise team, Merchandise Planning, Imports, Sourcing, Packaging Q/C, vendors, and other areas to ensure appropriate actions are taken regarding merchandise topics and issues
17. Works with other Inventory Specialists to ensure in-stock on components of all combos or kits
18. Ensures all systems are flagged to handle correctly
19. Abides by all policies and procedures of Oriental Trading Company
20. Maintains regular, predictable attendance
21. Must be able to attend face to face meetings on short or little advance notice
22. Work requires in-person collaboration among colleagues and contractors

Marginal Functions

1. Performs other duties and projects as assigned

Here’s what you need to join the fun:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to gain strong knowledge of product and vendors to perform job satisfactorily
• Ability to develop basic understanding of Forecast 21 software and other systems as become available to accomplish responsibilities
• Proficient with a PC, AS400, spreadsheet and word processing programs
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and analytical skills and detail oriented
• Ability to work under pressure with a large degree of independence
• Must have the initiative to think through problems and implement effective solutions
• Ability to analyze financial data and develop recommendations based on the data analyzed
• Ability to communicate those recommendations in a clear concise manner to those affected
• Ability to prioritize workload and accomplish all projects by the assigned due dates and anticipate upcoming needs
• Above average interpersonal and communication skills – both verbal and written. Ability to communicate at a level appropriate to the audience (which can vary considerably)

Education

• Associate’s degree in accounting or business or equivalent combination of education and experience

Experience

• Prefer 2 years experience in a similar capacity

Join us at Oriental Trading, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, where fun means business!

Oriental Trading Company (www.orientaltrading.com), is the nation’s largest direct retailer of value-priced party supplies, arts and crafts, toys and novelties, and a leading provider of teaching supplies and affordable home décor and giftware. Founded in 1932 by a Japanese American, the Oriental Trading history of fun spans the better part of the last century. Today, Oriental Trading offers more than 60,000 products to individuals, teachers, schools, churches, businesses and nonprofits. With a corporate vision to “Make Life More Fun,” Oriental Trading (a Berkshire Hathaway company) spreads joy and smiles to millions each year through a robust family of brands; Oriental Trading, Fun Express, MindWare, SmileMakers, Morris Costumes and halloweenexpress.com.

EOE